VISUAL REPORTS
Kremlin Says BBC Has No 'Permission' To Use Putin Image For 3D Cartoon
A new program by the broadcaster, titled Tonight With Vladimir Putin, features a 3D animation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Kremlin says the BBC never requested permission to use his image.
Belarus Buries Holocaust Victims' Remains
Remains of more than 1,000 Holocaust victims, discovered in a construction site in January, were laid to rest on May 22 in a solemn ceremony in the city of Brest in Belarus.
Mourning And Funerals For Inmates, Guards Killed In Tajik Prison Riot
Relatives have held funerals for some of the victims of a May 19 riot at a prison in Vahdat, east of the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.
Alyona Alyona: From Kindergarten Class To Rap Star
The New York Times just named Ukrainian Alyona Savranenko, aka Alyona Alyona, one of Europe’s most important pop acts, musically and socially. (Originally published November 15, 2018)
OTHER NEWS
Britain Denounces Cyber Threats And Russian ‘Global Campaign’
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce today at a NATO conference that Britain has helped 16 NATO allies counter malicious cyber threats against their countries since 2018, and accuse Russian intelligence services of mounting a "global campaign" targeting critical infrastructure.
Moscow Defies ECHR Ruling On Gay Pride Parade
Moscow authorities have failed to authorize a gay pride parade and LGBT rallies on May 25, despite a May 6, 2019 decision by the European Court of Human Rights declaring such prohibitions on the basis of current Russian law illegal and in contravention of the European Convention on Human Rights. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Kommersant Shake-Up Latest Assault On Independent Russian Media
Human Rights Watch has joined international and Russian media-freedom watchdogs in deploring the shake-up at Russian newspaper Kommersant, calling it "the latest episode in the gutting" of the country's independent media.
Russian Activist Reportedly Charged Under ‘Undesirable Organization’ Law
An activist in southern Russia says she has been charged with belonging to an "undesirable organization"’ as the state continues its crackdown against people associated with a rights group backed by former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Navalny Aide Volkov Jailed Over Unsanctioned Rally
Leonid Volkov, a senior aide to Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, has been sentenced to 20 days in jail for inciting demonstrators to violence in connection with an unsanctioned rally in Moscow last September.
Russian Court Upholds Sentence For Jehovah’s Witness
A court in Russia on May 23 ruled to uphold a six-year prison sentence for Dennis Christensen, a Danish adherent of the banned Jehovah’s Witnesses, a decision condemned by Amnesty International.
Yekaterinburg Officials Scrap Plan To Build Church
A rare public outcry has persuaded officials in Yekaterinburg, in Russia’s Urals region, to scrap plans to build an Orthodox church in a popular park. A poll showed 74 percent of respondents disagreed with the proposal.
Russian Lawmaker Facing Murder Charges Loses Mandate
Rauf Arashukov, a Russian lawmaker from the ruling party who was arrested on murder charges in January, has been stripped of his seat in the Federation Council. Members voted on the measure on May 22, formally citing his failure to submit a mandatory annual income declaration by the April 1 deadline.
Decree To Disband Ukrainian Parliament Enters Into Force
A decree issued by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy on disbanding parliament and holding new elections has taken effect. The polls are planned for July 21.
Saakashvili Asks Zelenskiy To Reinstate His Ukrainian Citizenship
Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who was appointed by former President Petro Poroshenko in 2015 to serve as governor of Ukraine's Odesa region, has asked Ukraine's new president to reinstate his Ukrainian citizenship.
Lukashenka Proposes Kazakhstan Oil For Belarus
Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has proposed opening talks with Kazakhstan on possible oil shipments to his country. Speaking at a meeting with Kazakhstan's ambassador in Minsk, Lukashenka said his government would like to diversify oil deliveries for its refineries.
Uzbek Man Dies In Protest Over House Demolition
A 33-year-old man has died after setting himself on fire to protest the demolition of his house by authorities in Samarkand’s Toyloq district. Officials said his house was built illegally. The prosecutor-general’s office told RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service that the case is under investigation. (in Russian, Uzbek Service)